The electric propulsion system that broke out in the Xinghai Research Institute suddenly became the focus of discussion at this bidding conference.

Whether it is the Long March 9 displayed by the aerospace science and technology of the two old aerospace groups, or the satellite grasping and other technologies displayed by the aerospace science and industry, they are completely crushed by the electric propulsion system at this moment.

The electric propulsion system with a thrust of up to 500,000 N, 100,000 times that of the electric propulsion engine with the largest thrust today, as soon as this data broke out, it immediately attracted everyone's attention and attention.

However, the bidding meeting still has to go ahead.

After the completion of the technical demonstration and exchange time of major aerospace enterprises, the discussion on the confidentiality projects of "Solicitation of Lunar Exploration Project Earth-Moon Cargo Transportation Scheme" and "Solicitation of Temporary/Permanent Base Construction Scheme on the Lunar Surface" began.

For major aerospace companies, whether they are old aerospace companies or new aviation companies that are qualified to join this internal meeting, these confidential projects can be described as a big cake in the follow-up aerospace field and belong to something that must be fought for.

Therefore, after the shock of the electric propulsion system, a new round of heated discussion entered the lecture hall.

"Seeing the electric propulsion system shown by Academician Xu, I can't help but sigh that the back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, and the 500KN electric propulsion engine can be said to be a huge change in the future history of aerospace."

In the front row of the lecture hall, an old man in aerospace science and technology suddenly sighed with emotion during the discussion.

Hearing this, Xu Chuan glanced at the old gentleman with some confusion.

The speaker was one of the representatives of aerospace science and technology participating in the bidding meeting, academician Qu Mingcheng.

Unlike Academician Zhu Senyuan, who specializes in liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen rocket engine technology, this academician Qu Mingcheng is the chief designer of the Long March rocket series, and is not only proficient in engine design, but also good at the launch vehicle itself and aerospace engineering.

The famous Long March 5 and the heavy-duty launch vehicle Long March 9, which is still in the process of being designed and manufactured, are the representative works of this old gentleman.

Xu Chuan didn't quite understand why this old gentleman suddenly praised his aerospace engine.

But he didn't say anything, guessing that he might have other words in the future, so he waited quietly.

As he expected, the academician Qu Mingcheng changed his words and continued: "However, the development of any technology is inseparable from time, and a new technology cannot be matured and used directly in a day or two after it is born. ”

"There's no denying that electric propulsion has a lot of potential in the future, but now, with NASA starting the race in the space field and we're taking the initiative to keep up with the pace of manned spaceflight and lunar exploration, I think it's more important to focus on more mature chemical-fuel rockets and accelerate our progress to the moon."

While speaking, the old astronaut also glanced at Xu Chuan and explained with a smile: "It's not that electric propulsion is not good enough, in my opinion, the electric propulsion system is very promising." ”

"Especially in the future interstellar navigation era, electric propulsion can undoubtedly replace the current chemical fuel rocket as the mainstream spacecraft power system."

"However, this technology has only just been developed, and it is still risky compared to mature chemical fuel propulsion systems. At this important juncture, I think it's better to keep a steady foot. ”

Hearing the old gentleman's words, Xu Chuan naturally understood what he meant.

These words are not only addressed to him, but also to the many experts and professors in the field of aerospace who are sitting here today, as well as the leaders of the space agency and science and technology.

It is undeniable that there is indeed some truth in what this old academician Qu Mingcheng said.

But to be honest, it should not be just a mature and stable chemical-fuel launch vehicle that prompted this old gentleman to say this.

There is also the huge cake and interests involved behind this bidding conference.

Whether it is the Earth-Moon cargo transportation plan of the lunar exploration project, or the construction plan of temporary/permanent bases on the lunar surface, or the lunar exploration project itself, it can be said that it is a huge cake.

Involving electric propulsion to share the pie, there is no doubt that chemical-fueled launch vehicles will have less to eat.

But it is obviously unjustifiable to leave a significantly more advanced technology out of use and use an older one.

Glancing at the old gentleman, Xu Chuan smiled and said: "The development of science and technology is always forward, this is the trend of the times, and no one can stop it." ”

"Just like after the completion of controlled nuclear fusion technology, we are dismantling thermal power stations one by one, reducing the cost of power generation and reducing environmental pollution."

"The advantages of a chemical-fueled rocket are undeniable, both in areas such as payload and defense, which are incomparable with electric propulsion systems."

After a pause, he continued: "But compared with fossil fuel rockets, the electric propulsion system also has great advantages in the aerospace field, and the superior specific impulse and endurance can prove its practicality." ”

"Now that we have achieved more advanced technology and achieved overtaking in the corners of the United States, there is no reason for us to put it down and not use it, but to use traditional chemical fuel rockets, and continue to develop after feeling the stones of the United States and following in the footsteps of others."

"Sometimes, the development that a little breakthrough can bring to us is absolutely huge."

Although he is a newcomer in the aerospace field, Xu Chuan is not afraid of conflicts with this old astronaut.

As he said, in the field of electric propulsion, they have achieved corner overtaking against the United States, and they have not put down more advanced technology and do not use it, but continue to follow the development behind other people's butts.

If this is to be done, all the controllable fusion reactors that have been built will be dismantled.

He didn't think about taking over all aerospace projects and lunar exploration projects to use electric propulsion systems, but if you dare to say that you want to exclude electric propulsion systems from this aerospace development, then he will not be polite.

It's not like this to distribute the cake, without the space agency's project, he relies on the funds of the Xinghai Research Institute to continue to engage in the research of the space shuttle.

It's hard for a good woman to cook without rice.

Although he doesn't think much about money, if he has less money, will he pay salaries and bonuses to those scientific researchers?

Seeing that the two were about to fight, Comrade Wu Yuankang, the leader of the Space Bureau who presided over the bidding meeting, coughed quickly and interjected a sentence to make a round.

"Ahem, let's communicate today, communicate; Let's talk about these things when the project is tendered, let's talk about it."

Wu Yuankang is also quite big, if these two are stubborn, it will be troublesome for him to adjust.

The space agency has a great reputation, but in fact it is just a second-class gate, belonging to industry and information.

In front of these two, his status as the director of the bureau is really a bit insufficient.

Qu Mingcheng is the chief engineer of the Long March series of carrier rockets and one of the founders of China's aerospace field.

And Xu Chuan is not to mention, just a controllable nuclear fusion technology is enough to reflect his weight.

If he stiffens, let alone the Space Bureau, even the bosses of the Space Agency can't come out to persuade him, and even the top bosses can only coax him.

However, from the perspective of the space agency, he has to consider more than just manned spaceflight and lunar exploration projects.

As we all know, the reason why aerospace engineering has always been valued by top countries such as the United States, China, Tsarist Russia, and Europe is not only the future of the aerospace field.

It is also used by aerospace science and technology in the fields of national defense and military.

For example, the development of launch vehicles, especially solid-fuel chemical rockets, can be used in various missiles with a slight change. Even liquid-fueled rockets are partly used in heavy long-range missiles such as the Dongfeng series.

Even because liquid-fueled launch vehicles have the ability to shut down and re-ignite, their application prospects in the field of defense and missiles may be more important than that of solid-fuel rockets.

For example, in certain situations where mission interruptions are required or multiple ignitions are required, liquid-fueled rocket technology is very important.

The reason why the country is willing to spend money on rockets is to a large extent because the development of rocket technology not only enhances the aerospace strength itself, but also strengthens the country's strategic strike capability.

As for the electric propulsion system, it is undeniable that electric propulsion is indeed important in the development of the aerospace field, and it can be called a major technological change.

But in the field of defense, you can't always launch electric propulsion and a missile on a small controllable nuclear fusion reactor.

In that case, if there is some unexpected situation, such as the missile is not detonated or intercepted, the loss of related technology will be significant.

However, electric propulsion is not without prospects in the field of national defense.

Whether it is the outer space carrier mentioned in the previous high-level meeting, or it is installed in heavy bombers and other fields, it has an extremely important role.

It is also impossible to talk about putting down the development of electric propulsion systems.

It's just that the funds are limited after all, and the trade-off between them is indeed a bit of a headache.

The second half of the bidding meeting ended after the discussion of the confidential projects of the "Solicitation of Plans for the Transportation of Earth-Moon Cargo for the Lunar Exploration Project" and "Solicitation of Plans for the Construction of Temporary/Permanent Bases on the Lunar Surface" was completed.

Emerging from the lecture hall, Xu Chuan returned to the hotel.

He didn't pay attention to some conflicts with the old aerospace group at the meeting today.

This is normal.

After all, with the country's increased investment in the aerospace field, the cake in this field is now getting bigger and bigger.

As a veteran aerospace group, Aerospace Science and Technology is still quite strong, and the technology of the Long March series of carrier rockets can be ranked among the top in the world.

However, this habit of eating alone is not very good.

This probably has something to do with the fact that for a long time, there have not been many domestic competitors in the aerospace field.

Although aerospace science and industry also belongs to the old aerospace enterprises, their research and development direction is more biased towards the field of aerospace defense.

In the case of a near-monopoly, the cake and benefits that can be eaten are undoubtedly greater.

Therefore, at this bidding meeting, the old problem of aerospace science and technology has probably been committed again, trying to monopolize the manned space flight and lunar landing projects this time.

Not to mention anything else, the space agency's planned funds for the two projects discussed at this bidding meeting, namely the "Solicitation of Plans for the Transportation of Earth-Moon Cargo for the Lunar Exploration Project" and the "Solicitation of Plans for the Construction of Temporary/Permanent Bases on the Lunar Surface," have exceeded 30 billion yuan, with an average of 15 billion yuan per project.

In China's aerospace field, the funding for this project is comparable to the aerospace investment in the past year.

Aerospace science and technology don't want to eat this cake, how is it possible?

Of course, not only aerospace science and technology want to eat, but Xu Chuan also wants to eat.

The development of aerospace engines and space shuttles both need to be supported by funds.

If it weren't for the need for funds for development, he wouldn't bother to pay attention to the old aerospace gang.

Wouldn't it be nice to have this time to concentrate on getting your own space shuttle out and then sending people to the moon and Mars?

If he could, he would prefer to make a trip to the moon and Mars himself.

Not to mention the various positions of the moon in myths and stories, just because it hangs from the canopy every night and can be seen with the naked eye, and even the existence of the moon sea can be seen in good weather, and its charm is full.

And Mars is involved in his follow-up transformation plan, and various surface and core exploration data are extremely important to him.

What's more, aside from all the scientific research, this is the conquest of an alien planet!

Walking on an extraterrestrial planet with his feet on the ground, Xu Chuan dared to say that no boy could refuse such a temptation.

Neither can he!

Back at the hotel, after having dinner, just as Xu Chuan was about to go to the bathroom to take a shower, there was a knock on the door of Dongdong's room.

"Please come in."

After answering casually, the door was opened, and his assistant Lu Ling walked in briskly from the outside.

"Professor, Mr. Ma, the chairman of the Penguin Group, came from Shenzhen and wanted to meet with you, saying that he was discussing the matter you asked those aerospace representatives to bring back before."

In the room, hearing the news, Xu Chuan glanced at her with some surprise and said, "Is it so fast?" Invite him over, I'll wait in the study. ”

"Okay."

Lu Ling answered and walked out quickly. After a while, under her guidance, the helmsman of the largest Internet company in China walked into the room.

A middle-aged man dressed in a suit and leather shoes walked through the general suite and into the hotel's study.